Page 119 of Yours, Forever

I puffed the cushions on the sofa, and checked that no trash hid anywhere. I reorganized the books in the shelves, and the cables in their basket. All with a smile on my face. Only ten minutes until closing. Probably less until Max came.

The door to the café opened and I automatically grinned; I expected it to be Eduardo, trying to get one last drink for the day.

"Made it right on time—" I started, before my blood drained down my legs and into the ground.

Carlos came into the shop with the same elegance and measured steps Max had used, that first night in Laguna Island.

Except that Carlos took a second to lock the door behind him.

I straightened my back, all joy forgotten. "What are you doing here?"

"Is that how you say hi to your father-in-law?" He smiled. "Then again, I suppose you don't have to be polite, since the marriage is fake. I bet you plan to end it in less than a year."

I fisted my hands, squinted at him, and said nothing.

He wore a trench coat, and dug his hands in its pockets. Despite the extra years Carlos had on him, the gesture made him look younger and so much like Max, that a part of me regretted that I hadn't been nicer.

"Max is in Laguna Island," I said. "At town hall."

"I know. I'm not here to talk to him."

I crossed my arms. "Whatever game you're playing, it's not going to work."

"I've seen the videos, you know. I know how you met." He took a few steps closer to me. "I know he paid you five million dollars to marry him."

"I think you should leave."

My focus narrowed on Carlos. The café disappeared around us; we stood in a white box, for all I knew. All I could see were his smart, cold eyes.

He got close enough to look down at me. I lifted my chin and returned his glare.

"You don't have as many options as you think, Eva. His five million are a mere drop to him, but to you? They barely guarantee anything. Sure, you won't have the same pressure you felt before, but you're still chained to working in this place."

"I don't care, Carlos. I have what I need."

"How about ten million dollars instead? Admit this marriage is a farce."

"Get out."

"Twenty, if you divorce him right away."

"Are you really this desperate?" I spat. "If you knew your son, you would know I could ask him and he'd give me anything I wanted. That's not why I'm with him."

"Fifty million dollars. Take it! Be free of all this! Before it's too late. It's my last offer. I have other plans in motion. He'll lose the company, and you'll lose the money!"

"I'll never divorce him! Never, you hear me? Can't you understand that some of us can't be bought?"

He spoke through clenched teeth. "If I'm not letting my son get between me and my goals, what makes you think I'm going to let you get in the way?"

"But you can't do anything about it, can you?" I taunted him with a smile. "All I have to do is stay married to him, and that I'll do. Gladly. I'm going to love seeing you fail."

He grabbed my arm. I didn't pull away— I wasn't scared. He snarled but didn't get to say anything. The door to the café opened wide, and a furious Max stomped in.

"Take your hands off my wife!" He tore Carlos' hand from me, and checked my arm like I might be bleeding.

I had never seen this level of concern and rage on his face.

His brow furrowed in worry as he held my face. "Darling, are you all right?"